http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3742443.stmComedy legend Spike Milligan has finally got the last laugh, more than two years after his death.
It follows an agreement with the local diocese over the wording on the headstone of his grave at St Thomas's Church in Winchelsea, East Sussex.
Relatives of the former goon have now decided that it can bear the star's epitaph: "I told you I was ill."
However, the inscription had to be written in Gaelic in order for it to be approved by the Chichester Diocese.
The former goon, who was an Irish passport holder, was buried close to his home in Udimore after he died, aged 83, from liver failure in February 2002.
But fans visiting his grave found it was only marked by some plants and a small statue because his family had been unable to agree on the headstone.
We're very pleased it's been resolved and with such a classic Spike line
Bill Horsman, of the Goon Show Preservation Society
It now bears the words "Duirt me leat go raibh me breoite", or "I told you I was ill", and the English words "Love, light, peace". Bill Horsman, chairman of the Goon Show Preservation Society, said: "News of the headstone going up on Spike's grave is marvellous.
"We had been very concerned for some time about the situation.
"It was very sad that the grave was in such a state, but it was down to very sensitive family problems and we simply could not get involved.
"We're very pleased it's been resolved and with such a classic Spike line.
"We all fell about laughing when we heard it."
Milligan formed the Goons with Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine and was widely regarded as one of the greatest influences on British comedy.
― Rock Bastard, Monday, 24 May 2004 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)
I met him one time...
It was a book signing, his new one was a retelling of "Black Beauty" in his own style, and my mum's birthday was coming up. So I grabbed my second-hand paperback copy of "Puckoon" and went along. To find I was about five from the front or thereabouts. He came out from the back office of the bookshop and sat at the table with a fairly cheerful disposition, but I was bricking it. Now, I have in my time met a fair number of famous people and never felt intimidated, but this was different to say the least. I picked a "Black beauty" up from the stack and waited. The bloke in front of me had twelve copies, and got Spike to sign them all with personal details. (The woman in front of him had offered up the book and asked for him to sign and put something funny. So, naturally he signed it "Something funny, Spike Milligan".
So, now it's me. He takes one look and say "My god man, you look scared to DEATH!!" Umm, good call. So I mention it's for my mum's birthday, and he asks "How old will she be?". Now I really should have researched this, and I guess Spike would not be too impressed by a "Don't know" so I guess sixty. Not bad, only one year out but in the wrong direction. So, he signs "For Olive, 60, from Spike Milligan, 78" and I relax a bit. I produce my copy of "Puckoon" and he exclaims "My god! I was alive when I wrote this", and signs in his shakey hand, and I then depart.
Oh, and about 2 days later I realise I hadn't actually paid for the dam book. Just walked straight out and back to work. And in dire need of a very strong coffee.
(Mark Grout anecdote number 282)
― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 07:41 (twenty-two years ago)
"We all fell about laughing when we heard it." Really? I mean, it's a good joke to have on your headstone and I'm sure if anyone could understand it it would provide them with a little light relief in the graveyard, but it's not that funny, surely?
― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 08:35 (twenty-two years ago)